Press Release- Next Great Baker Finale

MAYOR SCHNEIDER CONGRATULATES FLORISSANT BAKERS FOR WINNING TLC’S ‘NEXT GREAT BAKER’ COMPETITION FLORISSANT, MO, August 21, 2014 -- Mayor Thomas P. Schneider congratulates Al Watson and Lia Weber, a team of two professional bakers from Florissant who this week were named the winners of the fourth season competition of cable network The Learning Channel’s reality series, Next Great Baker. Watson, manager and cake decorator at Wedding Wonderland Cakeshop at 449 Dunn Road in Florissant, and Lia Weber, pastry chef at Hendel’s Market Café, located at 599 Rue St. Denis in Old Town Florissant and the proprietor of Made. by Lia, comprised the only team competing from the Midwest . Next Great Baker is hosted by Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s Cake Boss reality series. The 10 teams competed for a grand prize of $100,000 as well as a chance to work with Valastro at the new Carlo’s Bakery at The Venetian casino in Las Vegas. “We are thrilled that these two talented young bakers represented not only Florissant but also the State of Missouri and the entire Midwest region in such grand style,” said Mayor Schneider. Hendel’s Market Café and Wedding Wonderland are two wonderful examples of the robust and distinctive small businesses that fuel Florissant’s economic growth.” The competition was taped earlier this year, but contestants were sworn to secrecy so as not to reveal any results before episodes aired on TLC. The two-hour season finale on Tuesday, August 19 was viewed by more than 1, 500 people at a pair of parties held at Hendel’s and Yacovelli’s Restaurant at 407 Dunn Road in Florissant. Christine Bennett, co-owner of Hendel’s, said that more than 600 people purchased wrist bands for $25 for food and drinks at the restaurant’s party, with another 150 or so walk-ups. “We had a block party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.,” said Bennett. “We had a photo booth for people to take pictures with Lia, a food station and a craft beer station with Schlafly, Ferguson Brew and Four Hands Brewery, plus desserts by Lia.” TVs inside and outside carried the show, including a 15- foot-by-20-foot TV outside. Jan and Jack Yacovelli said they were filled to capacity and were planning to have a follow up party. Michael Temm, owner of nearby Wedding Wonderland said, “We had reservations for 620 people and my best-guess estimate would be about 750 people total in attendance at Yacs. We had a cake walk for everyone. Rockstar DJ, a shutter booth from St. Louis Photo Booth for pictures with Al as souvenirs. We had a champagne entrance with red carpet, then a choice of a buffet or Yac’s menu. Also, we had an 8-foot roulette table made of cake from Wedding Wonderland.” Temm said business at Wedding Wonderland in the last three weeks has been phenomenal. Al Watson, 31, has been a cake decorator at Wedding Wonderland for six years and has worked in the cake decorating business for 15 years. A ‘bakery trained’ decorate and cake artist, he lives with his wife and daughter in Florissant. Lia Weber, 24, is a graduate of Trinity Catholic High School and Fontbonne University as well as the Baking and Pastry Program at the St. Louis Community College at Forest Park Culinary School. She also has studied at the Culinary Institute of Florence, Italy. She also is proprietor of Made.by.Lia. Founded in 1786, Florissant is the largest city in St. Louis County, with a population of more than 52,000 residents. The City of Florissant regularly is listed among the safest cities in America for its population range, and provides abundant services for all sectors of the community, including children, young adults and seniors. In 2012, Florissant was ranked among the Top 75 Best Places to Live by CNN’s Money Magazine . Florissant has two community centers, three swimming pools, a renowned theater, a covered skating rink, an abundance of parks and recreational sites, a new championship disk golf course and the only 18-hole municipal golf course in St. Louis County. For more information, visit www.florissantmo.com or call 314-921-5700. ### .

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